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Australian Hospital End-of-Life Care 2026 — Palliative Care & Advance Care Planning Guide
Complete guide to Australian hospital end-of-life care — palliative care services, advance care planning, voluntary assisted dying (VAD), grief and bereavement support, Palliative Care Australia standards, and end-of-life software.
VAD is now legal in all Australian states (not NT/ACT). Advance Care Directives are stored in My Health Record. PCA sets palliative care standards. This guide covers Australian end-of-life care.
Palliative Care Service Types
| Service | Description | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist palliative care | Specialist palliative care team | Inpatient + community |
| Hospital palliative care | Palliative care consultation for inpatients | Hospital |
| Community palliative care | Palliative care at home | Home |
| Hospice | Dedicated palliative care unit | Hospice |
| Respite palliative care | Respite for carers | Inpatient |
| Bereavement support | Grief and bereavement support for families | Community |
End-of-Life Care Pathway
- Recognition: Recognise that patient may be approaching end of life
- Communication: Communicate openly with patient and family about prognosis
- Advance care planning: Review or create Advance Care Directive
- Goals of care: Discuss and document goals of care (curative, palliative, terminal)
- Symptom management: Manage pain, nausea, dyspnoea, agitation, delirium
- Psychosocial support: Provide psychological and spiritual support
- Family support: Support family through the dying process
- Bereavement: Provide bereavement support to family after death
Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD)
| State | Legal Since | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | June 2019 | Terminal illness, 6 months (12 months neuro) |
| WA | July 2021 | Terminal illness, 6 months (12 months neuro) |
| Tasmania | October 2022 | Terminal illness, 6 months (12 months neuro) |
| South Australia | January 2023 | Terminal illness, 6 months (12 months neuro) |
| Queensland | January 2023 | Terminal illness, 6 months (12 months neuro) |
| NSW | November 2023 | Terminal illness, 6 months (12 months neuro) |
| NT/ACT | Not legal | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is advance care planning in Australia?
- Advance care planning in Australia allows patients to document their future healthcare preferences. Components: 1) Advance Care Directive (ACD) — legally binding document specifying treatment preferences, 2. Substitute decision-maker — person appointed to make decisions if patient loses capacity, 3. Values and preferences discussion. ACDs are recognised in all Australian states (legislation varies by state). My Health Record stores ACDs.
- What is voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in Australia?
- VAD (Voluntary Assisted Dying) is legal in all Australian states (Victoria 2019, WA 2021, TAS 2022, SA 2023, QLD 2023, NSW 2023). VAD allows eligible terminally ill adults to request medication to end their life. Strict eligibility: 1) Adult, 2. Australian resident, 3. Terminal illness (6 months or 12 months for neurodegenerative), 4. Decision-making capacity, 5. Voluntary, 6. Three independent assessments. VAD is NOT legal in NT or ACT.
- What are Palliative Care Australia standards?
- PCA (Palliative Care Australia) publishes Standards for Providing Quality Palliative Care. 5 standards: 1) Assessment and planning, 2. Care is coordinated, 3. Patients and families are informed, 4. Symptom management, 5. Family and bereavement support. Australian hospitals should follow PCA standards for palliative care. PCA also publishes the Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC) framework.